Valley Girl Views: The Art Deco Moose Building, 33 East 3rd

The Former Moose Building - 33 East 3rd Street, Williamsport Pa
[And assorted notes about the Moose Lodge 145 In Williamsport]

Built in 1941, after the previous building was destroyed in a fire, this art deco building is scheduled for demolition in 2025.

A lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose, 145, was first organized in Williamsport in 1909.
They published a booklet called The Susquehanna Herd, with the second issue published in 1911. According to the Altoona Tribune, it was "a great improvement over the first"

In 1913, the Moose Lodge was located on Mulberry street.

In 1915, the Altoona Tribune reported that the Moose of Williamsport were discussing plans for a new club house to be located on the site of the present club building.

[In February of 1920, the Grit reported that the Y.M.H.C. had recently purchased the [former] Moose building "on Mulberry street, north of third. " ]

[This is likely the building after the 1920 fire. I think.]

However, the Williamsport Walking Tour tells us the lodge purchased a former doctors office, in 1917, rather than build a new building.

According to the Williamsport Sun, in 1918 Judson W. Robbins fell, while working, from the roof of the new Moose building on East third street. [He landed on a platform below and escaped serious injury]

On February 26th 1920, the Moose building located at 113-115 East 3rd street, was destroyed in a fire, along with the Hopler garage. The garage had constructed a small storage room at the back of the Moose building, which was used to store gasoline, alcohol, grease, etc. "It is surmised that the blaze was caused by spontaneous combustion"

A 1920 advertisement for Hopler Motor Co gave their address as "121 East Willow St, in rear of their former location, the Moose building"

[Side note - the Muncy Luminary reported that Williamsport was visited by two fires within a week - the Moose building on 3rd street , and "one did considerable damage to the fourth story and roof of the Park hotel"]

On February 21st 1921, "the new Moose building was thrown open for public inspection... hundreds availed themselves of the opportunity". The formal dedication ceremony was held on February 24th.

On December 2 1939, the Moose club building was again destroyed in a fire.

February 7th 1940 - "considerable damage was caused but no injuries resulted, when the east wall of the fire-wrecked remains of the Moose Club Building in Williamsport Collapsed." An adjoining apartment in the Page funeral home was damaged.

A new art deco building was constructed at 33 east third. It was opened in ceremonies on May 23rd 1941, with Senator James J. Davis as the principal speaker, and then formerly dedicated in September of that same year.

Post cards showing the new building advertised "Floor Shows, Friday, Saturday And Sunday. Six Bowling Alleys. Air Conditioning Throughout. Over 3600 Members. Lodge Meets Second And Fourth Thursdays"

Articles describing the new building listed the following features:
- "architectural terra cotta in light buff with dark brown trim"
- Aluminum Marquee, Moose Emblem illuminated with colored lights.
- Club activities on first floor. Included a reading room, 6 bowling alleys, pool-room, Quoit court, grills, and secretaries office.
- second floor held lodge & banquet rooms, kitchen, stage, and paraphernalia rooms.

I found a listing on Etsty for this table [nearly $4,000], said to be made from the bowling alley at the Williamsport Moose Lodge.

In 1957, 75 Moose Lodges came to Williamsport for the Eastern Division Parade.

"Longtime residents recall coming to this building in 1959 to receive Dr Jonas Salk's new polio vaccine; the lines stretched in both directions around the corner as adults sought to avoid this terrible disease that had struck so many American's, including President Roosevelt."

Moose Emergency Corp. 145, Williamsport, PA

In August of 1941, the Moose Lodge formed a 60 person emergency first aid corps, to assist city and state police and firemen. The group was to be headed by Capt Bert Nichols and Edward E. Beisel.
Photo description - First two ladies at front table, Lydia Simpson, Mae Cryder. Others unknown, Date unknown but guessing between 1935 and 1947. Lydia was a cook at the Moose Club. Mae was the great granddaughter of John Rich an original settler of Woolrich, PA. Lydia deceased in 1949 and Mae in 1967."

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The Moose Lodge moved to South Williamsport in the 1990s, and the building at 33 East 3rd Street became 33 East, with their new sign covering up the Moosehead logo still on the building. After 33 East, it was, for a short time, Fat Cat- and it was around that time that the entire building was whitewashed.